Vaping in cars carrying anyone under 18 will be banned in England under government plans to reduce the harm caused by smoking and vapes.
The proposal is included in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which is currently progressing through Parliament. Smoking in cars containing children and young people up to the age of 18 has been illegal in England since 2015. The new legislation would extend that prohibition to the use of vapes and heated tobacco.
If approved, enforcement would mirror existing smoke-free laws, with a minimum of six months between regulations being made and coming into force.
Restrictions in playgrounds, schools and hospitals
Ministers are also consulting on plans to outlaw smoking, vaping and the use of heated tobacco in playgrounds and outside schools. Smoking would be banned outside hospitals and other health facilities, though vaping would still be allowed in those areas.
All indoor places where smoking is already prohibited would become heated tobacco-free and vape-free under the proposals.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: “No child in a playground or hospital patient should suffer because someone else chooses to smoke. Second hand smoke increases the risk of heart disease and lung cancer and we want to protect children and the sick from harm.
“Prevention is better than cure, so this Government is taking pressure off the NHS and building a healthier Britain where everyone lives well for longer.”
England’s chief medical officer, Chris Whitty, said: “People who do not smoke but who are exposed to second hand smoke can suffer significant harmful effects on their health, including an increased risk of asthma, poor birth outcomes, several cancers, stroke and heart disease. The health risks are greatest for children, pregnant women and people with medical conditions.
“No smoker wants to harm people, but with second hand smoke they do – and these measures would reduce the harm second hand smoke causes the most medically vulnerable in our society.”
‘Growing evidence about vaping’
The Department of Health and Social Care said the measures are needed to protect public health in light of growing evidence about heated tobacco and vaping.
It said: “Evidence is emerging that emissions from heated tobacco and secondhand vapour from vapes pose health risks. At the same time, youth vaping has risen sharply in recent years, raising concerns about nicotine addiction and long-term health effects.”
The proposals form part of the government’s wider prevention strategy, aimed at reducing avoidable harm and easing pressure on the NHS.
Consultation and exemptions
The 12-week public consultation launched on Friday and will run until 8 May 2026. It is seeking views on which settings should be covered, possible exemptions and how boundaries should be defined.
Outdoor hospitality venues such as pub gardens and wider open public spaces including beaches are not included in the plans. People will still be able to smoke or vape in their homes and in private outdoor spaces. Care homes, hospices, mental health hospitals and residential schools are also exempt.
Health charities have backed the consultation. The British Heart Foundation’s chief executive Dr Charmaine Griffiths said: “No child should have to walk through a cloud of deadly second hand smoke on their way to the classroom or playground, nor should any patient be exposed to harm on hospital grounds.
“We strongly support the Government’s consultation and the landmark legislation behind it, and we call for urgent implementation to protect everyone from harm.”
Dr Ian Walker, Cancer Research UK’s executive director of policy and information, said: “We support the Government taking action to create a smoke-free future.”
